Sweet Exorcist (band)

Sweet Exorcist was a British electronic music group formed in Sheffield, England in 1990. The duo consisted of Richard H. Kirk, best known for his work with Cabaret Voltaire, and DJ Parrot (also known as Parrot & Dean Honer, and later as Crooked Man).

The project was initially conceived as a vehicle for Kirk to explore deeper into house and techno music, diverging from the more experimental industrial sound of Cabaret Voltaire. DJ Parrot, a respected figure in the Sheffield dance music scene, brought his expertise in DJing and production to the collaboration.

Sweet Exorcist is most known for their influential track "Testone," released in 1990. "Testone" became a landmark release in the development of bleep techno, a subgenre characterized by its sparse, bass-heavy rhythms and distinctive bleeping sounds. The track was released on Warp Records, solidifying the band's connection to the burgeoning Sheffield electronic music scene.

While "Testone" remains their signature track, Sweet Exorcist released several other recordings and EPs on Warp Records throughout the early 1990s, further exploring variations on the bleep techno sound. Their music often incorporated elements of dub and industrial music, reflecting Kirk's background.

The project was relatively short-lived, with both Kirk and Parrot pursuing other individual and collaborative ventures after the mid-1990s. However, Sweet Exorcist's impact on electronic music, particularly bleep techno, is undeniable, and "Testone" continues to be a frequently cited and sampled track. The duo's innovative approach to sound design and rhythm laid the groundwork for many subsequent developments in electronic dance music.